How BLE will drive new innovations

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is one of the most exciting developments in recent times. It is entering into every aspect of technology, including hardware. The most discussed application of BLE is User tracking.

Bluetooth Low Energy is a wireless network technology designed to aim at novel applications in fitness, beacons, health, entertainment, security and many other industries. BLE is marketed as ‘Bluetooth Smart’ technology. Bluetooth Smart is an extension of Bluetooth wireless technology to those devices that are powered by even small and coin-cell batteries. Various mobile operating systems like iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, supports Bluetooth Smart. BLE is designed to provide essentially low power consumption. This enables apps to communicate with BLE devices that consumes low power. It also makes possible to program apps that can interact with hardware devices.

BLE for connections

BLE devices can be used for reading information and for writing information to perform operations. Some are “read only” devices like iBeacons and sensors that collect information from surroundings. Some devices are those which we can interact with, like door controllers, radio-controlled toys and light controllers.

BLE is one of the core technologies of the Internet of Things (IoT). “The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or “things” embedded with electronics, software, sensors and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data.”

The important feature of BLE is that it is a local area technology and an independent radio technology which works outside of the internet and Wi-Fi networks. Mobile apps that connect to BLE devices can also connect to internet to transmit data. This makes BLE a flexible technology for communication.

Presently BLE is fabricated into fitness wristbands. BLE also powers new Sensor Tag, Arduino microcontroller and RFduino. In near future, we would see many consumer products that will use BLE, like home appliances, bikes, cars, clothes, etc.

App developers have the vast opportunities to develop creative apps for consumer as well as custom-built BLE hardware. Any application developer and software engineer can access and use resources to develop apps for devices with BLE technology. Using development platforms, innovative accessories can be created for Bluetooth Smart compatible solutions.